Introduction
of acute leukemia
Is a result
of malignant transformation of a stem cell leading to unregulated proliferation
and arrest in maturation at the primitive blast stage, if left untreated fetal
within a few weeks or months. Acute leukemia is caused when genes that control
the normal production of white cells are damaged. This leads to an
overproduction of immature white cells. The Acute leukemias are a group of
disorders characterized by the accumulation of malignant white cells (BLASTS)
in the bone marrow and blood. There will be:
bone marrow failure (i.e. anemia, neutropenia, and thrombocytopenia) and
infiltration of organs (e.g. liver, spleen, lymph nodes, brain, and skin).
Acute leukemia is potentially curable cancer, the long term cure rate can be in
excess of 80%. Even those with high risk of disease, the cure rate is 30%-40%
with an allogenic stem cell transplant.
Types of acute leukemia
1. Acute myeloid leukemia
Is a
dangerous type of blood cancer, this is a cancer coming from the white blood
cells in the blood. The job of the white blood cells are to protect against
infections, so when these white blood cells get cancer the chances of getting
infections increases. Acute myeloid leukemia is divided into different types
based on how the cancer cells look and the genetic abnormalities.
2. Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia
Acute
lymphoblastic leukemia is a type blood cancer and bone marrow found in
children. The spongy tissue inside
bones where blood cells are made. ALL can also occur in adults through the
chance of cure is greatly reduced. Acute
lymphoblastic leukemia is one of the commonest malignancies which are found in children.
But these are the most curable malignancies as well. Is a malignant disease of
the bone marrow in which lymphoblast proliferate and replace the normal
hematopoietic cells in the bone marrow. Lymphoblasts are immature cells
differentiated to form mature lymphocyte. Symptoms may include: bleeding from
the gums, bone pain, fever, frequent infections, lumps caused by swollen lymph
nodes in and around the neck, short ness of breath, weakness, fatigue or
general decrease in energy.
Causes of acute lymphoblastic leukemia
This is
caused by an accumulation of lymphoblasts
in the bone marrow. ALL occurs when a bone marrow cell develops error in its
DNA. The error tells to continue growing and dividing when a healthy cell would
normally stop dividing and die. When this happens blood cell production becomes
abnormal. The bone marrow produces immature cells that develop into leukemic
white blood cells called lymhoblasts. These abnormal cells are unable to
function properly and they can build up and crowd out heathy cells. It is not
clear what causes the DNA mutation that can lead acute lymphocytic leukemia.
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS of acute leukemia
- Weakness, fatigue, pallor.
- Shortness of breath.
- Fever.
- Weight loss.
- Night sweats ,recurrent infections.
- Bleeding.
- Splenomegaly, hepatomegaly and lymphadenopathy.
Clinical features
Failure of
normal hemopoiesis leads to the trial of anemia and recurrent infection due
to reduction in normal leucocytes and bleeding due to thrombocytopenia. Leukemic
proliferation, accumulation, and invasion of normal tissues, including the
liver, spleen, lymph nodes, central nervous system, and skin, cause lesions
ranging from rashes to tumors. Failure of the bone marrow and normal
hematopoiesis may result in pancytopenia with death from hemorrhaging
and infections.
Diagnosis
blood tests
to determine the number of normal blood cells, and also presence of immature
cells normally found in the bone marrow. Bone marrow aspiration where a needle
is used tobremove a sample of bone marrow from your pelvis or breastbone this
sample is then sent to the lab to test for leukemia cells.
Haw to treatment acute leukemia
- Chemotherapy
- Immunotherapy
- Target therapy
- Stem cell transplant
Conclusion
Acute
leukemia is a rapidly progressing cancer of the blood and bone marrow
characterized by the uncontrolled growth of immature white blood cells. It is
mainly classified into acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and acute myeloid
leukemia (AML), each differing in the type of cells affected and the age groups
commonly involved.
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